Ricky Ponting airs stunning new claim as Jasprit Bumrah spotted in telling scenes before third Test

Jasprit Bumrah has allayed some injury concerns by training at the Gabba ahead of the third cricket Test between Australia and India. And Ricky Ponting has gone public with a new theory about the clash between Travis Head and Mohammed Siraj.

Bumrah sparked major concerns when he needed treatment during the second Test in Adelaide, although India have claimed it was just cramp. His bowling speed was noticeably down during the solitary over he bowled in the second innings, and there's fears he won't be fit to play in Brisbane for the third Test starting on Saturday.

He skipped training on Wednesday and opted to rest, but returned to the main group on Thursday. The superstar bowler was spotted going through warm-up drills and bowling in the nets, and didn't appear to be in much discomfort.

But 24 hours earlier, Aussie great Damien Fleming suggested all was not right and questioned why he bowled the over in the second innings when the result was a forgone conclusion. “There’s got to be some serious doubts,” Fleming said on SEN Radio. “Siraj might be workload (related) but I’m bemused Bumrah bowled that over. They could have hid this. They showed their hand.

“There’s no way that’s cramp. He was very ginger after the break in the first innings. He bowled again, not quite as slow second innings. I don’t even know why he bowled that over (in the second innings). That actually gave some secrets away to everyone.”

Thankfully for India it looks like Bumrah will be right to go. The right-armer has been the tourists' best bowler by some margin and starred in the first Test while acting as stand-in captain.

Ricky Ponting says Head and Siraj incident was 'accidental'

Meanwhile, Ponting has weighed in on the controversial incident between Siraj and Head in Adelaide, which resulted in both players being found guilty of breaching the ICC code of conduct. Siraj copped a fine for giving Head a send-off, while the Aussie was reprimanded for swearing at his opponent.

Opinion has been divided about whether the clash was good or bad for the game, however Ponting reckons it was actually a misunderstanding. The former Australia Test captain stated on Wednesday that he thinks neither player actually wanted to get involved in the nasty confrontation that eventuated.

“Looking back at it now, I think it was accidental the way that whole thing played out,” Ponting said on the ICC Review podcast. "I don't think there was any malice meant at the start. Then the way it started and almost like the misinterpretation of what had actually gone on, I think led to how it ended.

“Siraj obviously wasn't happy about being hit over the deep backward square for six the ball before. Rohit (Sharma) I'm sure would expect these fast bowlers to react like that. When they're under the pressure and they're getting hit and then they've just got a wicket you'd expect that they'd be up and about."

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Ponting added: “Look, it wasn't that big a deal. I was in comms (commentary box) at the time. As soon as I saw the send-off, I actually got worried for Siraj. I know how the umpires react to those things. Umpires and referees don't like seeing the send-off, pointed in the direction of the dressing room.

“It was great to see them actually chatting (after the incident). When Siraj came out to bat and Travis was at short leg, they were actually clarifying what had happened out there. They were talking amongst themselves as to what had actually happened.”